Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a full participant in practice on Tuesday. Rodriguez was limited twice in practice last week before being ruled out for Sunday's win over the New York Giants. He appears to be trending in the right direction with a full session to begin Week 16 preparation. In his absence on Sunday, rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries during Sunday's victory. The return of Rodriguez would likely reduce Croskey-Merritt's role for the upcoming matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. If healthy, Rodriguez should offer low-end flex appeal in deep leagues this weekend in a bad matchup.
Dec 16, 2025 7:07 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a late scratch before his team's Week 15 win over the New York Giants due to a groin injury. In his absence, Commanders back Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the way with 18 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown. However, Rodriguez Jr. had emerged as the lead rusher in Washington before getting hurt. Across three games leading into Week 15, the 25-year-old racked up 172 rushing yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. Croskey-Merritt's stellar performance against the Giants may lead to more of a split backfield in Washington going forward. Still, in fantasy leagues where Rodriguez Jr. is available on the waiver wire, he should be targeted heading into his team's Week 16 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dec 15, 2025 10:42 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) is inactive for Sunday's Week 15 contest against the New York Giants. He had been listed as questionable and was believed to be a true game-time decision. After Rodriguez tested his injury in pregame workouts, the team decided he wasn't healthy enough to suit up. The 26-year-old had been leading Washington's backfield lately with 37 touches and 4.8 yards per carry over his last three games. Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols should split touches in his absence, with McNichols likely getting more involved on passing downs. Neither back is a surefire top-36 fantasy option for Week 15, despite a favorable matchup against New York's bottom-tier run defense.
Dec 14, 2025 11:38 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) will be a game-time decision for Sunday's Week 15 contest against the New York Giants. Rodriguez is listed as questionable after logging back-to-back limited practices. The 26-year-old has taken on a much larger role lately, amassing 37 touches over his last three games. During that span, he's averaging an impressive 4.8 yards per carry and has also scored a touchdown. If Rodriguez is active, he'll rank as a low-end RB2 against a Giants defense that has allowed the second-most rushing yards and second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025. However, if he doesn't suit up, the Commanders would give increased snaps to Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols out of the backfield.
Dec 14, 2025 8:01 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional game against the New York Giants. Rodriguez was a non-participant on Wednesday, but he was able to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday. The third-year running back has operated as Washington's lead back in recent weeks, handling double-digit carries in four of the past games. He exited early with a shoulder injury during the first half of the Week 10 game against the Lions after recording six carries for 16 yards and a touchdown. Rodriguez has totaled 54 carries for 253 yards with three rushing scores since then. He'll profile as a solid flex option in a favorable Week 15 matchup against the Giants if he's active, while rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols would handle the work if Rodriguez is unable to go.
Dec 12, 2025 4:40 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was able to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday after being held out on Wednesday due to a groin injury. While Rodriguez Jr.'s status for the team's Week 15 matchup against the New York Giants is still in question, his ability to practice on Thursday is obviously a positive sign. Across 11 games this season, the 25-year-old has recorded 81 carries for 372 yards and four touchdowns. Rodriguez Jr. appears to be emerging as the lead back in Washington, as he's earned double-digit carries in four out of his last five outings. If he's sidelined against the Giants, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols would likely handle the majority of the team's backfield snaps. If active, Rodriguez Jr. profiles as a low-end fantasy RB2/high-end flex option for fantasy managers in Week 15.
Dec 11, 2025 4:34 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) has maintained a role within his team's backfield that makes him a rosterable fantasy player as Washington prepares to take on a shaky New York Giants defense in Week 15. Though the season is all but finished for Washington, Rodriguez has drawn double-digit carries four times in the past five weeks, which includes three rushing touchdowns and a pair of top-30 finishes among PPR running backs despite his lack of involvement in the passing game. Rodriguez didn't practice on Wednesday, but with quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) out again, the Commanders could look toward the backfield against a Giants defense that ranks 31st against fantasy running backs. The third-year back has been touchdown-dependent, but if he's able to play, he's getting enough action to consider him in favorable matchups, particularly in leagues with more than one flex spot.
Dec 11, 2025 9:29 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was unable to practice on Wednesday due to a groin injury, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. This is a notable one, since Rodriguez has taken over as the team's lead back in the last five games with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt struggling. The 25-year-old has played over 40% of the snaps in the last three games and has seen double-digit carries in four of the last five contests. In the last five games, C-Rod has 55 touches for 259 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. If Rodriguez cannot return to practice this week and is out for a divisional matchup on Sunday against the New York Giants, Croskey-Merritt and pass-catching back Jeremy McNichols would both see increased playing time in D.C. It's a situation worth watching closely for fantasy managers.
Dec 10, 2025 5:47 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed for 52 yards on 10 carries in the Commanders' 31-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. He was the only somewhat bright spot in what was a really tough afternoon for the Commanders team. Rodriguez has performed well of late, scoring nine or more fantasy points in three of his last five games, but has limited upside because he is not earning any of the running back receiving work, is touchdown dependent, and projects for 10-15 carries depending on game flow. In Week 14, the Commanders fell behind early to the Vikings, and he never really got much of a chance later in the game. Week 15 presents a good opportunity for Rodriguez, as the Commanders travel to New York to take on the Giants, who allow the second-most points to opposing running backs on the season. Due to his projected volume and limited receiving floor, Rodriguez will be an RB3 heading into Week 15, and should not be on the waiver wire in most 12 or more team formats.
Dec 8, 2025 10:02 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has taken over the RB1 duties in Washington. Despite the preseason hype that surrounded seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rodriguez has been the RB1 as of late, totaling 201 rushing yards and three touchdowns in his last four games. Rodriguez played 44% of the snaps in their past two games, with receiving back Jeremy McNichols playing 35%, while Croskey-Merritt played just 20%. With the return of Jayden Daniels imminent, the Commanders' offense could be explosive down the stretch, which means good things are coming for the third-year back from Kentucky. In 2024, Daniels led the Commanders to the fifth-ranked scoring offense and an NFC Championship appearance. If Daniels returns, Rodriguez should have more scoring opportunities and can make an impact in the fantasy playoffs.
Dec 3, 2025 10:50 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. continues to lead the Commanders in running back touches in Week 13's 27-26 loss to the Denver Broncos with 11 carries. Backfield mates Jeremy McNichols had six, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt only had four. Rodriguez has clearly cemented himself as the running back to own in this Commanders backfield, as over the last two games, he has earned 26 carries, rushed for 120 yards, and scored two touchdowns on the ground. Moving forward, not only is he the only Commander running back that can be started in fantasy football, but he can confidently be started as an RB3 or flex play in deeper leagues. As we take a look at the next few weeks, Rodriguez gets matchups with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Dallas Cowboys in three of the next four weeks, all matchups that are far better than what he faced on Sunday Night Football against the Broncos, in which he still scored over 10 fantasy points. Rodriguez is a must-add off the waiver wire and can be plugged into lineups if you have players who are going on a bye in Week 14 or are dealing with multiple injuries in your lineups.
Dec 1, 2025 9:30 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has operated as part of a committee in recent weeks after not having a major role early in the season. The third-year back holds a narrow lead in rush attempts over rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the past three games, recording 33 carries for 160 yards and two touchdowns compared to Croskey-Merritt with 32 rushes for 96 yards and no touchdowns. Rodriguez is the better fit down near the goal line with his ability to fight through tackles and consistently gain positive yardage. His upside for fantasy is capped a bit by his lack of involvement in the pass game, as Jeremy McNichols has handled that role for the bulk of the season, but Rodriguez holds weekly touchdown upside and should lead Washington's backfield in carries for the remainder of the season. However, it's a tough Week 13 matchup against a Denver Broncos defense that is allowing a league-best 3.6 yards per carry this season.
Nov 30, 2025 10:13 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. led the backfield in Week 11's loss to the Miami Dolphins, handling 15 carries for 79 yards and adding one reception (one target) for six yards. Rodriguez should be expected to lead Washington's backfield again out of their Week 12 bye against a stout Denver Broncos defense on Sunday Night Football. The third-year back from Kentucky missed Wednesday's practice this week due to an illness, but practiced in full on Thursday and Friday and heads into Sunday without an injury designation. He doesn't have the highest single-week upside because of the lack of receiving upside, but he's found the end zone in two of the last three games to go with 160 yards on 33 carries. Plus, rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt should stay involved on early downs while Jeremy McNichols handles the pass-down work. Rodriguez ranks as RotoBaller's RB39 in PPR leagues for Week 13 against the Broncos, who have allowed the 10th fewest PPR points per game to opposing running backs.
Nov 28, 2025 7:25 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness) was absent during Wednesday's practice due to an illness, but it shouldn't affect his status for Sunday Night Football against the Denver Broncos. Rodriguez has established himself as Washington's primary ball carrier in recent weeks with the struggles of rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The third-year back out of Kentucky led the backfield with a 45.3% snap share in Washington's Week 11 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Madrid, handling a career high 15 carries for 79 yards to go with one reception (one target) for six yards as a receiver. He won't add much value as a receiver as Jeremy McNichols handles the pass-down responsibilities, but he should receive the majority of the early down work with Croskey-Merritt mixing in. Rodriguez has a tough matchup in Week 13 against Denver, but should get enough volume to profile as a low-end RB3.
Nov 27, 2025 12:40 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness) missed Wednesday's practice due to an illness, according to The Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala. Rodriguez's status for the Sunday night primetime game against the visiting Denver Broncos in Week 13 is worth monitoring, but the 25-year-old should be cleared by then. In recent weeks, C-Rod has taken over early-down duties in Washington's backfield from struggling rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, while Jeremy McNichols continues to be the team's primary pass-catching back. Rodriguez should be good to go against Denver, but his fantasy stock is trending down this week in a bad matchup with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota set to make another start. The Broncos' strong defense has allowed the third-fewest rushing yards per game (88.5) in 2025.
Nov 26, 2025 6:30 PM EST
In his final game before his team's Week 12 bye, Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. recorded 79 rushing yards on a season-high 15 carries against the Miami Dolphins. The Commanders have operated with a committee backfield of Rodriguez Jr., Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Jeremy McNichols for most of the 2025 season. However, Rodriguez Jr. has recorded 33 carries and two rushing touchdowns over the team's last three games and could be emerging as the team's lead back on early downs. The 25-year-old has just one reception across nine games played, so his fantasy upside is limited in PPR leagues. However, Rodriguez Jr. is still worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Washington's Week 13 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
Nov 24, 2025 10:43 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. was the lead back in Week 11, handling 15 carries for 79 yards in the overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins. Rumors were swirling about Rodriguez taking over the backfield from rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and he was efficient in his first game as the lead back. Rodriguez played 45% of the snaps, while Croskey-Merritt and receiving back Jeremy McNichols played 26% of the snaps each. While the Commanders' offense has been lackluster to say the least, reinforcements are on the way, with Jayden Daniels (elbow) and Terry McLaurin (quad) nearing a return. If the offensive production improves, Rodriguez could be a sneaky producer for fantasy managers down the stretch.
Nov 20, 2025 10:35 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. posted season-bests in Sunday's 16-13 OT loss to the Dolphins in Madrid, and would be an intriguing waiver add if he retained his workload moving forward. The 26-year-old recorded his highest snap share of the season (45%) in Week 11, while carving out 79 yards on his 15 carries. It's modest production, but noteworthy considering he was the clear preferred option on the ground ahead of both Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols for the first time all campaign. The offense's floor has dropped significantly since quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) suffered another injury. That said, a shift in backfield philosophy could put Rodriguez Jr. on the lower end of the fantasy map. The next time he takes the field will be against a staunch Denver Broncos defense in Week 13.
Nov 17, 2025 11:18 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed for 79 yards on 15 carries during Sunday's Week 11 loss against the Miami Dolphins in Madrid. He also converted his lone target into a six-yard reception. Washington has operated out of a backfield committee for most of this season, but it now appears that Rodriguez has taken over as the team's lead back. Not only did he have more carries than Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols combined, but he also had more yards per carry than each of them. Rodriguez is now averaging 9.9 fantasy points (full-PPR) over his last three games, and he handled a season-high 44.8 percent snap share on Sunday morning. Fantasy managers should view Rodriguez as a high-end RB3/flex on the other side of his Week 12 bye.
Nov 16, 2025 4:02 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (shoulder) is off the injury report and is good to go for Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins in Madrid, Spain. Rodriguez was a full participant in practice every day this week, and he should be in line to lead Washington's backfield in carries on Sunday. The 25-year-old played 17 of the team's 25 snaps, handled six of the 10 running back carries, and ran seven routes on 13 dropbacks in the first half before leaving with the injury. Rodriguez has scored touchdowns in three of the past four weeks and is the much better fit as the short-yardage back for Washington due to his physical running style and ability to fight through contact. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt played only four snaps and had two carries in the first half, but then played the majority of the snaps in the second half with Rodriguez out. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said Rodriguez "has played at a high level" when given the opportunity and has upside in a positive matchup against the Dolphins, who have allowed 4.9 yards per carry and the ninth most PPR points per game to opposing running backs. Rodriguez is a better play in standard and half PPR formats due to his limited receiving upside, checking in as RotoBaller's RB32 in half PPR for Week 11.
Nov 14, 2025 7:40 PM EST